Decking System

ABSTRACT

A decking system facilitates runoff by creation of lengthwise conduits in overlapping planks when assembled. The system includes a plurality of decking planks each having a main section elongated between a first end and a second end. A top connection flange has a proximal section coplanar with a top surface of the plank and a distal section extending perpendicularly from the proximal section defining a downwardly facing channel. A bottom connection flange has a first portion coplanar with the bottom surface of the plank and a second portion extending perpendicularly from the first portion defining an upwardly facing channel. A length of the proximal section is greater than a thickness of the second portion to define a conduit therebetween when a pair of the planks are adjacently positioned with the top connection flange overlapping the bottom connection flange.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

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STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

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THE NAMES OF THE PARTIES TO A JOINT RESEARCH AGREEMENT

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INCORPORATION-BY-REFERENCE OF MATERIAL SUBMITTED ON A COMPACT DISC OR ASA TEXT FILE VIA THE OFFICE ELECTRONIC FILING SYSTEM

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STATEMENT REGARDING PRIOR DISCLOSURES BY THE INVENTOR OR JOINT INVENTOR

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BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION (1) Field of the Invention (2) Descriptionof Related Art Including Information Disclosed Under 37 CFR 1.97 and1.98

The disclosure and prior art relates to decking systems and moreparticularly pertains to a new decking system for facilitating runoff bycreation of lengthwise conduits in overlapping planks when assembled topromote runoff.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An embodiment of the disclosure meets the needs presented above bygenerally comprising a plurality of decking planks each having a mainsection elongated between a first end and a second end. A top connectionflange has a proximal section coplanar with a top surface of the plankand a distal section extending perpendicularly from the proximal sectiondefining a downwardly facing channel. A bottom connection flange has afirst portion coplanar with the bottom surface of the plank and a secondportion extending perpendicularly from the first portion defining anupwardly facing channel. A length of the proximal section is greaterthan a thickness of the second portion to define a conduit therebetweenwhen a pair of the planks are adjacently positioned with the topconnection flange overlapping the bottom connection flange.

There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more importantfeatures of the disclosure in order that the detailed descriptionthereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that thepresent contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There areadditional features of the disclosure that will be described hereinafterand which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto.

The objects of the disclosure, along with the various features ofnovelty which characterize the disclosure, are pointed out withparticularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of thisdisclosure.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING(S)

The disclosure will be better understood and objects other than thoseset forth above will become apparent when consideration is given to thefollowing detailed description thereof. Such description makes referenceto the annexed drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a top front side perspective view of a decking systemaccording to an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 2 is a bottom view of an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 3 is an end view of an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 4 is a top view of an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 5 is a top front side perspective view of an embodiment of thedisclosure.

FIG. 6 is an exploded top front side perspective view of an embodimentof the disclosure.

FIG. 7 is an exploded bottom rear side perspective view of an embodimentof the disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

With reference now to the drawings, and in particular to FIGS. 1 through7 thereof, a new decking system embodying the principles and concepts ofan embodiment of the disclosure and generally designated by thereference numeral 10 will be described.

As best illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 7, the decking system 10generally comprises a plurality of planks 12. A top surface 14 of eachplank 12 is textured. The texture may be designed to resemble variousforms of wood or another decorative design if so desired. Each plank 12comprises a main section 16 having a first end 18 and a second end 20.The main section 16 is elongated between the first end 18 and the secondend 20. The main section 16 of each of the planks 12 is solid betweenthe top surface 14 and a bottom surface 22 of the plank 12. A topconnection flange 24 has a proximal section 26 coplanar with the topsurface 14 of the plank 12 and a distal section 28 extendingperpendicularly from the proximal section 26 towards the bottom surface22 of the plank 12. The distal section 28 of the top connection flange24 of each plank 12 defines a downwardly facing channel 30. An outersurface 32 of a junction 34 between the proximal section 26 and thedistal section 28 of the top connection flange 24 of each plank 12 isrounded. For each plank 12, a cross-sectional shape of the topconnection flange 24 perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the plank12 is L-shaped.

A bottom connection flange 36 has a first portion 38 coplanar with thebottom surface 22 of the plank 12 and a second portion 40 extendingperpendicularly from the first portion 38 toward the top surface 14 ofthe plank 12. The second portion 40 of the bottom connection flange 36of each plank 12 defines an upwardly facing channel 42. Across-sectional shape of the bottom connection flange 36 perpendicularto a longitudinal axis of the plank 12 is L-shaped such that the bottomconnection flange 36 is essentially a mirror image of the top connectionflange 24 except that there may be no rounding at a junction between thefirst portion 38 and the second portion 40.

A length of the proximal section 26 of the top connection flange 24 isgreater than a thickness of the second portion 40 of the bottomconnection flange 36 wherein the top connection flange 24 and the bottomconnection flange 36 define a conduit 44 therebetween when a pair of theplanks 12 are adjacently positioned with the top connection flange 24overlapping the bottom connection flange 36.

Each of a plurality of guide holes 46 extends into the bottom surface 22of each plank 12. The guide holes 46 are configured to facilitatesecurement of each of the planks 12 by fasteners, such as screws or thelike, inserted into the bottom surface 22 of the plank 12. The guideholes 46 are linearly aligned and spaced apart along a longitudinal axisof the plank 12. The guide holes 46 are positioned closer to the topconnection flange 24 than the bottom connection flange 36.

In use, the planks 12 are installed overlapping the top connectionflange 24 over the bottom connection flange 36 to form the conduits 44.Securement of the planks 12 from the bottom surface 22 allows the topconnection flange 24 to clamp down on the bottom connection flange 36.Water, or other fluids, can enter the conduits 44 and drain away fromthe top surface 14 of the planks 12. The top connection flange 24 andbottom connection flange 36 along lateral sides of a completed deck maybe trimmed away. An edge of the completed deck extending along alignedends of the planks 12 may be left open to prevent obstruction of theconduits 44.

With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized thatthe optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of an embodimentenabled by the disclosure, to include variations in size, materials,shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, aredeemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and allequivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings anddescribed in the specification are intended to be encompassed by anembodiment of the disclosure.

Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of theprinciples of the disclosure. Further, since numerous modifications andchanges will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is notdesired to limit the disclosure to the exact construction and operationshown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications andequivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of thedisclosure. In this patent document, the word “comprising” is used inits non-limiting sense to mean that items following the word areincluded, but items not specifically mentioned are not excluded. Areference to an element by the indefinite article “a” does not excludethe possibility that more than one of the element is present, unless thecontext clearly requires that there be only one of the elements.

1. A decking system comprising: a plurality of decking planks, each saidplank comprising a main section having a first end and a second end,said main section being elongated between said first end and said secondend, said main section of each of said planks being continuously solidbetween opposing lateral sides of said main section and said top surfaceand said bottom surface, a top connection flange having a proximalsection coplanar with a top surface of said plank and a distal sectionextending perpendicularly from said proximal section towards a bottomsurface of said plank, said distal section of said top connection flangeof each said plank defining a downwardly facing channel, a bottomconnection flange having a first portion coplanar with said bottomsurface of said plank and a second portion extending perpendicularlyfrom said first portion toward said top surface of said plank, saidsecond portion of said bottom connection flange of each said plankdefining an upwardly facing channel, wherein said bottom connectionflange is substantially a mirror image of said top connection flange,and a length of said proximal section of said top connection flangebeing greater than a thickness of said second portion of said bottomconnection flange wherein said top connection flange and said bottomconnection flange define a conduit therebetween by cooperation of a pairof said planks when said pair of said planks are adjacently positionedwith said top connection flange overlapping said bottom connectionflange.
 2. The system of claim 1, further comprising said top surface ofeach said plank being textured.
 3. The system of claim 1, furthercomprising a plurality of guide holes extending into said bottom surfaceof each said plank wherein said guide holes are configured to facilitatesecurement of each of said planks by fasteners being inserted into saidbottom surface of said plank.
 4. The system of claim 3, furthercomprising said guide holes being linearly aligned and spaced apartalong a longitudinal axis of said plank.
 5. The system of claim 4,further comprising said guide holes being positioned closer to said topconnection flange than said bottom connection flange.
 6. (canceled) 7.The system of claim 1, further comprising an outer surface of a junctionbetween said proximal section and said distal section of said topconnection flange of each plank being rounded.
 8. The system of claim 1,further comprising a cross-sectional shape of said top connection flangeperpendicular to a longitudinal axis of said plank being L-shaped. 9.The system of claim 1, further comprising a cross-sectional shape ofsaid bottom connection flange perpendicular to a longitudinal axis ofsaid plank being L-shaped.
 10. A decking system comprising: a pluralityof planks, said top surface of each said plank being textured, each saidplank comprising a main section having a first end and a second end,said main section being elongated between said first end and said secondend, said main section of each of said planks being continuously solidbetween opposing lateral sides of said main section and said top surfaceand said bottom surface, a top connection flange having a proximalsection coplanar with a top surface of said plank and a distal sectionextending perpendicularly from said proximal section towards a bottomsurface of said plank, said distal section of said top connection flangeof each said plank defining a downwardly facing channel, an outersurface of a junction between said proximal section and said distalsection of said top connection flange of each plank being rounded, across-sectional shape of said top connection flange perpendicular to alongitudinal axis of said plank being L-shaped, a bottom connectionflange having a first portion coplanar with said bottom surface of saidplank and a second portion extending perpendicularly from said firstportion toward said top surface of said plank, said second portion ofsaid bottom connection flange of each said plank defining an upwardlyfacing channel, a cross-sectional shape of said bottom connection flangeperpendicular to a longitudinal axis of said plank being L-shaped,wherein said bottom connection flange is substantially a mirror image ofsaid top connection flange, a length of said proximal section of saidtop connection flange being greater than a thickness of said secondportion of said bottom connection flange wherein said top connectionflange and said bottom connection flange define a conduit therebetweenby cooperation of a pair of said planks when said pair of said planksare adjacently positioned with said top connection flange overlappingsaid bottom connection flange, and a plurality of guide holes extendinginto said bottom surface of each said plank wherein said guide holes areconfigured to facilitate securement of each of said planks by fastenersbeing inserted into said bottom surface of said plank, said guide holesbeing linearly aligned and spaced apart along a longitudinal axis ofsaid plank, said guide holes being positioned closer to said topconnection flange than said bottom connection flange.